The Final Boss Vs. The Franchise: Will John Cena Vs. The Rock III Happen Before Cena’s 2025 Retirement?

The greatest rivalry of the modern WWE era may be heading for an unexpected final chapter, according to the latest buzz and speculation circulating in December 2025. The epic, decade-long saga between John Cena and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, which defined two generations of wrestling, is being reignited by John Cena’s impending retirement from the ring. With Cena having announced that 2025 will be his final year as an active competitor, the question on every fan's mind is no longer about their past clashes, but whether "The Final Boss" will step up to be "The Franchise’s" final opponent.

The intensity of their original "Once in a Lifetime" feud at WrestleMania XXVIII and its "Twice in a Lifetime" rematch at WrestleMania 29 cemented their status as all-time legends. However, recent interactions—from a viral moment at the 2024 Oscars to a chaotic face-off at WrestleMania XL—have made a third, definitive encounter a genuine possibility, fueling a massive wave of fantasy booking and anticipation across the WWE Universe.

The Titans: Complete Biography and Career Profile

The rivalry between John Cena and The Rock was so potent because it pitted two of the most dominant and successful figures in the history of professional wrestling and Hollywood against each other. Their careers, while different in their trajectory, share an unparalleled level of global impact.

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Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson Profile

• Ring Name: The Rock, The Final Boss, Rocky Maivia, The Great One
• Birth Name: Dwayne Douglas Johnson
• Born: May 2, 1972 (Hayward, California)
• WWE Status: Signed to WWE; serves on the Board of Directors for TKO Group Holdings.
• Major Achievements: 10-time World Champion (8-time WWE Champion, 2-time WCW/World Champion), 2-time Intercontinental Champion, 5-time Tag Team Champion, 2000 Royal Rumble Winner.
• Hollywood Career: One of the world’s highest-grossing actors, starring in franchises like Fast & Furious, Jumanji, and Moana.
• Signature Moves: The Rock Bottom, The People's Elbow.

John "The Franchise" Cena Profile

• Ring Name: John Cena, The Prototype, The Doctor of Thuganomics, The Franchise
• Birth Name: John Felix Anthony Cena Jr.
• Born: April 23, 1977 (West Newbury, Massachusetts)
• WWE Status: Signed to WWE; serves as a brand ambassador. Announced 2025 as his final year of active competition.
• Major Achievements: Record-tying 16-time World Champion (13-time WWE Champion, 3-time World Heavyweight Champion), 5-time U.S. Champion, 4-time Tag Team Champion, 2-time Royal Rumble Winner, Money in the Bank Winner.
• Philanthropy: Record-setting Make-A-Wish granter (over 650 wishes).
• Hollywood Career: Star of films like Peacemaker, Bumblebee, and Fast X.
• Signature Moves: Attitude Adjustment (AA), STF.

The Original War: From Hollywood Slam to WrestleMania Showdown

The legendary rivalry truly began in February 2011, when The Rock returned to WWE to announce he would host WrestleMania XXVII. John Cena, the face of the company in The Rock’s absence, immediately took issue with The Rock’s frequent departures to Hollywood, accusing him of abandoning the WWE Universe.

This was more than just a wrestling feud; it was a clash of philosophies. Cena represented the loyal, full-time workhorse, while The Rock embodied the successful Hollywood crossover star returning only for the biggest moments. The verbal warfare was personal and brutal, blurring the lines between scripted promos and real-life tension.

The "Once in a Lifetime" Saga (2011–2013)

• WrestleMania XXVII (2011): The Rock cost Cena the WWE Championship in his match against The Miz, setting the stage for their future match. This moment instantly became one of the most talked-about segments of the year.
• WrestleMania XXVIII (2012): Billed as "Once in a Lifetime," The Rock defeated John Cena in his hometown of Miami, Florida, in a non-title main event. Cena's clean loss was genuinely devastating to his character and his "Never Give Up" mantra, marking a massive shift in the company's landscape.
• WrestleMania 29 (2013): The rematch, dubbed "Twice in a Lifetime," saw Cena defeat The Rock to win the WWE Championship. This victory allowed Cena to finally conquer his greatest rival and reclaim his position at the top of the company.

The two men have since mended fences, with Cena even publicly apologizing to The Rock for taking their rivalry too far during the intense verbal exchanges. Their current relationship is one of mutual respect, a testament to the business they both love.

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The Final Chapter: Why "Cena vs. Rock III" is Now a Real Possibility

The speculation about a third match has reached a fever pitch in late 2024 and 2025, driven by two major, current developments: John Cena’s retirement and The Rock’s transformation into "The Final Boss."

Cena's Retirement Tour and The Final Match

John Cena has made it clear that 2025 will be his last year as an active in-ring competitor, putting a definitive timeline on his legendary career. This announcement has naturally led to a viral theory that his final opponent must be The Rock—the only man who could truly bookend the career of the 16-time World Champion.

The Rock himself has commented on the matter, stating that while he may have a "tiny" role in the decision-making process as a TKO board member, the choice of who Cena faces in his final match ultimately belongs to Cena. Cena, for his part, has expressed that the idea of a third match is "cool" and a dream scenario for fantasy booking.

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The Final Boss vs. The Franchise

The Rock’s unexpected 2024 return saw him embrace a new, villainous persona: "The Final Boss." This darker, more aggressive character, who aligned himself with The Bloodline, presents a stark contrast to the heroic "People's Champion" Cena faced a decade ago.

The two legends actually came face-to-face during the chaotic main event of WrestleMania XL, where The Rock delivered a Rock Bottom to Cena, a brief but powerful moment that proved the fire still exists between them. If a third match were to happen, it would be The Rock (The Final Boss) against John Cena (The Franchise), a battle between the two most successful wrestling-to-Hollywood stars ever, with the ultimate stakes: Cena's career.

The Path to WrestleMania 42 and Beyond

If the stars align, the most likely venue for the ultimate showdown would be WrestleMania 42, which will take place in 2026. While Cena's retirement is slated for 2025, a mega-match against The Rock is the kind of business opportunity that could extend his timeline for one final, monumental night.

The narrative is perfect: The Rock, having established himself as a powerful executive and the ultimate antagonist (The Final Boss), attempts to end the career of the man who once criticized him for leaving. It would be a poetic conclusion to a rivalry that began with a dispute over loyalty and legacy. It is a match that transcends wrestling, becoming a global entertainment event that would generate immense mainstream buzz and revenue for TKO Group Holdings. The pressure from the WWE Universe and the business side of the entertainment world makes this potential third match less of a fantasy and more of an inevitability. The world waits to see if The Rock will grant John Cena his final, greatest wish.